--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He thought the best thing he had gained…" description: "\"“He thought the best thing he had gained in Paris was a complete liberty of spirit, and he felt himself at last absolutely free. In a desultory way he ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/william-somerset-maugham-8684_books_he-thought-the-best-thing-he-had-gained_1552262.jpg" --- # He thought the best thing he had gained in Paris was a… ![“He thought the best thing he had gained in Paris was a complete liberty of spirit, and he felt himself at last absolutely free. In a desultory way he had read a good deal of philosophy, and he looked forward with delight to the leisure of the next few months. He began to read at haphazard. He…” quote by William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/william-somerset-maugham-8684_books_he-thought-the-best-thing-he-had-gained_1552262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/william-somerset-maugham-8684_books_he-thought-the-best-thing-he-had-gained_1552262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/william-somerset-maugham-8684_books_he-thought-the-best-thing-he-had-gained_1552262.jpg) > ““He thought the best thing he had gained in Paris was a complete liberty of spirit, and he felt himself at last absolutely free. In a desultory way he had read a good deal of philosophy, and he looked forward with delight to the leisure of the next few months. He began to read at haphazard. He entered upon each system with a little thrill of excitement, expecting to find in each some guide by which he could rule his conduct; he felt himself like a traveller in unknown countries and as he pushed forward the enterprise fascinated him; he read emotionally, as other men read pure literature, and his heart leaped as he discovered in noble words what himself had obscurely felt. His mind was concrete and moved with difficulty in regions of the abstract; but, even when he could not follow the reasoning, it gave him a curious pleasure to follow the tortuosities of thoughts that threaded their nimble way on the edge of the incomprehensible. Sometimes great philosophers seemed to have nothing to say to him, but at others he recognised a mind with which he felt himself at home. He”” [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man discovers intellectual freedom through reading philosophy, feeling both exhilarated and challenged by abstract ideas. **In simple terms:** Reading philosophy gave him a sense of freedom and excitement. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and let ideas expand your mind. Themes freedom intellectual curiosity self‑discovery learning exploration Mood enthusiastic reflective inspired Type literary philosophical motivational When to use this quote - traveling abroad - studying philosophy - seeking inspiration - overcoming mental blocks Key Concepts philosophy personal growth abstract thinking Questions to Reflect On - What abstract concept excites you most? - How do you handle ideas that seem beyond your grasp? 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He entered upon each system with a little thrill of excitement, expecting to find in each some guide by which he could rule his conduct; he felt himself like a traveller in unknown countries and as he pushed forward the enterprise fascinated him; he read emotionally, as other men read pure literature, and his heart leaped as he discovered in noble words what himself had obscurely felt. His mind was concrete and moved with difficulty in regions of the abstract; but, even when he could not follow the reasoning, it gave him a curious pleasure to follow the tortuosities of thoughts that threaded their nimble way on the edge of the incomprehensible. Sometimes great philosophers seemed to have nothing to say to him, but at others he recognised a mind with which he felt himself at home. 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